Marion Barnhart’s many contributions to the field of hematology include a demonstration of the role that neutrophils and eosinophils play in fibrin dissolution; a description of cellular sites for the synthesis of prothrombin, fibrinogen and other blood coagulation proteins; scanning electron microscopy of the events that take place during platelet activation and platelet-vessel wall interactions; a description of circulatory pathways in the spleen; and a human umbilical vein model for studying platelet-vessel wall interactions.

Kenneth M. Brinkhous was an original member of the International Committee for the Standardization of the Nomenclature of the Blood Clotting Factors (now known as the SSC Committee). Brinkhous’s peers elected him to the first ISTH Council, and he served as the Society’s Secretary General for 12 years.

Pia Glas-Greenwalt’s contributions to the fields of thrombosis and hemostasis include the identification of increased plasma levels of what proved to be plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; the creation of a state-of-the-art Fibrinolysis/Special Coagulation Laboratory at TriHealth’s Good Samaritan Hospital; and a better understanding of the properties and therapeutic uses of the defibrinating enzyme Ancrod.

Shirley Johnson’s five books and 96 scientific publications continue to serve as monuments to investigators in the fields of thrombosis and hemostasis. Johnson studied everything from plasma coagulation factors to the interaction of platelets with fibrin clotting mechanisms and the vascular endothelium. Her careful, systematic research establishing the endothelial-supporting function of platelets can serve as a model for any investigator.

Oscar D. Ratnoff’s seminal contributions to the scientific community’s understanding of bleeding disorders and blood coagulation include a proposal for a waterfall sequence of blood coagulation; the discovery of factor XII (Hageman factor) and high molecular weight kininogen (Fitzgerald factor); the development of an immunoassay to differentiate factor VIII deficiency and von Willebrand disease; and early recognition of the potential danger of contaminating factor VIII concentrates with a putative AIDS agent.

Sol Sherry founded the ISTH in 1969 and led it for six years as its first chairman. His research on thrombosis and thrombolysis and its clinical applications has earned him the title, "father of thrombolytic therapy.” His achievements, particularly the introduction of streptokinase as a treatment for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction and other thrombotic disorders, have saved and improved many lives.

Irving Wright drove the creation of the International Committee on the Nomenclature of Blood Clotting Factors (now known as the SSC) and served as its chairman from 1954 to 1963. He tirelessly drew attention to the consequences and implications of thrombosis and the importance of research that focused on preventing, diagnosing and treating it. The ISTH was founded largely as a result of his motivating influence and organizational skills.

A successful merchant and philanthropist, Arthur Schulte was the first American patient to benefit from heparin therapy. Wright was his physician.

Désiré Collen provided the endowment for a lectureship through a contribution from the Collen Foundation (now Life Science Research Partners). Collen is the founding director of the Molecular Cardiovascular Medicine Group in Leuven, Belgium, and the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of ThromboGenics Ltd. He and his team initially developed therapeutic tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), a drug that revolutionized how patients with thrombotic disorders are treated.